Removal of carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is of a practical, economical process for removing carbonyl sulfide from the gases generated in a commercial process for producing titanium tetrachloride by chlorinating ilmenite ores, and is carried out by first freeing the gases of titanium tetrachloride, hydrochloric acid and chlorine and then sending the remaining gases, which comprise mainly, C0, C02 N2 and COS, through a substantially dry static bed of activated carbon maintained at a relatively low temperature whereby the carbonyl sulfide is adsorbed on the activated carbon, the activated carbon then being regenerated for subsequent use by passing steam or an inert gas through the carbon bed at elevated temperatures followed by cooling; the invention being comprehensive also of a cyclic process wherein a series of four towers of activated carbon are used in a predetermined sequence for removing carbonyl sulfide from chlorinator gases continuously on a plant scale. For purposes of identification and brevity the term &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;sour&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; gas will be used to identify chlorinator gases which have been freed of TiC14, HC1 and C1 and comprise relatively large amounts of C02 plus C0, N2 and small amounts of COS, while the term &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;sweet&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; gas will be used to identify a sour gas from which the COS has been removed.

United States Patent John Beukenkamp, deceased late of Milltown (by Mrs. John Beukenkamp. administratrix);

Carl Kerb Stoddard. Westfield; Joseph L. Waldman, Elizabeth, all of. NJ.

Inventors [2] I Appl. No 873,563 [22] Filed Nov. 3, 1969 I45] Patented Aug. 3, 1971 [73] Assignee National Lead Company New York, N.Y.

[54] REMOVAL OF CARBONYL SULFIDE FROM INDUSTRIAL GASES 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.5. CI 55/59, 55/74. 55/387 [5i] lnt.Cl 801d 53/00 [50] Field of Search ..23/2; 55/59, 74, 73 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,000,988 9/l96l Karchmer et al. 23/2.l X 3,358,421 [2/1967 Huxley et al 55/73 X Sweet Primary Examiner-Samih N. Zaharna Assismn! Examiner-R. W. Burks Anorneyr- Charles F. Kaegebehn, Robert L. Lehman, Harold L. Gammons and Robert L. Holiday ABSTRACT: The disclosure is of a practical, economical process for removing carbonyl sulfide from the gases generated in a commercial process for producing titanium tetrachloride by chlorinating ilmenite ores, and is carried out by first freeing the gases of titanium tetrachloride, hydrochloric acid and chlorine and then sending the remaining gases, which comprise mainly, C0, C0 N and CO5, through a substantially dry static bed of activated carbon maintained at a relatively low temperature whereby the carbonyl sulfide is adsorbed on the activated carbon, the activated carbon then being regenerated for subsequent use by passing steam or an inert gas through the carbon bed at elevated temperatures followed by cooling; the invention being comprehensive also ofa cyclic process wherein a series of four towers of activated carbon are used in a predetermined sequence for removing carbonyl sulfide from chlorinator gases continuously on a plant scale.

For purposes of identification and brevity the term sour" gas will be used to identify chlorinator gases which have been freed of TiCl,, HCl and Cl and comprise relatively large amounts of C0 plus C0, N and small amounts of COS, while the term sweet" gas will be used to identify a sour gas from which the COS has been removed.

Steam or Nitrogen II III Condenser I07 REMOVAL OF CARBONYL .SULFIDE FROM INDUSTRIAL GASES 7 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention has its inceptionin the constant search for ways for effecting greater economies in the commercial production of titanium tetrachloride, aproduct-which is in ever increasing demandfor use in the production of titanium metal, vapor phase Tiogpigment, organic titanium compounds and the like. In generaltitanium tetrachloride is produced by chlorinating ilmenite ores in the presence of a carbonaceous reducing agent. The off gases from the chlorination will comprise gaseous TiClg, Cl, HCl, CO, o and N, plus solid dust particles. These off-gases are sent to a dust collector andthen to one or more condensers in which the gaseous TiCl, is condensed and recovered'as a crude liquid TiC 1 which is subsequently processed to form substantially pure TiCL. The residual gases comprise amixture of C0, C Cl, HCl and N and in the interest of economy it is desirable to provide a methodgand means for separating these several gases for use in other industrial processes. For example in the production of vapor phase TiO, pigment by reaction of gaseous TiCl, with oxygen in the presence of CO, carbon dioxide is sometimes used as a coolant. In general separation of HCl and Cl from these residual gases has been accomplished effectively by sending the residual gases through a water scrub tower and then to a caustic scrub tower: For purposes of this application the gases recovered from the caustic scrub tower are referred to'hereinafter and in the claims as sour gas and may. comprise from 25 to 70 percent CO; from 29 to 60 ,percent C0,; from 0.9 to 14 percent N, andfrom 1.0 to 0. l p erce ntCOS. However during normal operation of a plant chlorinator the gases comprise more nearly from 39 to 42 pen cent CO, from 50 to 55 percent C0,, from 5 to 6'percentN, and from 0,4 to 0.5'percent COS. Nowoneof the commonly known methtids for separating CO from C0, and N, is to send hrough a monoethanolamine (MEA) absorber ngly enough it was foundthat whensour gas was passed'throughthe monoethanolamine absorber the CO in the gas became contaminated with H 8. It was then-discovered that this was due to absorption. of sulfur compounds and in particular the carbonyl sulfide derived from the carbonaceous reductant i.e. the petroleum coke used in the chlorinator. Petroleum coke has a sulfur content of from 1.1 to 1.6percent or even higher and while sulfur in the formof sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide or thionyl chloride is removed by means of the TiCl, condensers and the scrub towers substantial amounts i.e. about 0.4 percentof carbonyl sulfide remains in the sour gas after removal of the chlorine products. While in theory it could be expected that inpassing the mixture of C0, C0,, N, andCOS through the (MEA) absorber the C05 would react with the monoethanolamine, according to the reaction:

presence of heat the monoethanolamine will be regenerated to produce hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. However the presence of the H 5 in the C0,.is, of course, undesirable since it gives rise to corrosion and related problems when the sul-- fide-containing CO, is used for other purposes in plant operations.

It became necessary therefore to remove the carbonyl sulfide from the sour gas before putting it through the monoethanolamine absorber and it has now been found that carbonyl sulfide can be stripped from a sour gas by passing the a temperature as slow as F.

gas throughrelatively cold columns of activated carbon, this despite tlie'presenceof relatively large amounts of CO CO and N lt'is known that highly basic absorbing agents may be used for absorbing carbonyl sulfide. However the sour gas derived from chlorinator gases contain large amounts of CO i.e. as high as l00 times the amount of carbonyl sulfide, and consequently when highly basic absorbing agentsare used they areneutralized and do not remove' the carbonyl sulfide. Also some fundamental research work has been done on absorption of pure COS on activated carbon as reported in I and EC. 48, 7, l l23-l 133,7/56.

The present invention is characterized by the wholly unexpected discovery that a column of activated carbon can be operated successfully to remove COS from sour gas despite the presence of large amounts of C0 andeven though the carbon is saturated with CO gas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates in general to the purification of industrial gases containing sulfur compounds and more especially to an improved method for removing carbonyl sulfide from sour 'gas produced in the chlorination of rutile or rutile concentrates wherein the sour gas, which comprises relatively largeamounts of CO in addition to CO, N and CO5, is sent through a columnof substantially dry activated carbon in which the ratio of the height of the column to its diameter is at least 2. lzl, and at a bed temperature in the range from about 35 F. to no more than about 1 15 F and thereafter regenerating the column of activated carbon for subsequent absorption of CO5 by flushing it with superheated steam at from 400 F. to 550 F. and from 5-6 p.s.i.g. or with nitrogen at temperaturesin the range of from 3802-510 F., followed bycoolingthe regenerated carbon preferably with sweet gas at other production areas for use, for example, in' the vapor phase production of TiO, without causing corrosion or air pollution problems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.-l is a schematic view of an activated carbon of an adsorber including means for precooling a sour gas prior to being fed into the adsorber;

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the effect. of variations in sour gas temperature on COS loading capacity of the carbon;

FIG. Sisa graph showing the effect of variations in moisture content of a sour gas on the capacity of the carbon to adsorb COS:

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the effect of variations in the ratio ofthe height to diameter of the carbon column on the capacity of the of the carbon to adsorb COS;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the effect of variations in the flow rate of a sour gason the capacity of the carbon column to adsorb COS; and v FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a plurality of activated carbon adsorption towers arranged to function according to one or more of several possible cyclic patterns for removing COS from sourgasbeing generated continuously on a plant scale.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As mentioned at the outset the invention is applicable to the removal of carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases having a high percentage of CO, and may be done by the equipment shown schematically in FIG. '1 wherein the carbonyl sulfide adsorber comprises, preferably a cylindrical column or tower charged with activated carbon, the height of which is at least twice its diameter, and having a mesh size of -6+l6 by Tyler screen analysis. I

Using the equipment of FIG. 1 a series of experiments were made to explore the variables affecting the capacity of carbon to adsorb carbonyl sulfide in thepresence of large amounts of C0,. To begin with it was found that the particle size of the activated carbon, the pressure of the system and the concentration of COS in the sour gas bore a straight line relationship with the adsorption capacity of the carbon over the range of interest for commercial applications. Thus, as the particle size of the carbon was increased from about 30+140 to 4+l0 its relative adsorption capacity dropped from about 1.35 to about 0.8. An increase in pressure within the carbon column from l4.7 p.s.i.g. to about 44.1 p.s.i.g. effected an increase of ad sorption capacity from about 1.3 to about 2.3 blbs. COS/100 lbs. carbon. Further, an increase in COS concentration in the sour gas from about 0.34 to about 0.46 effected an increase in carbon loading capacity from about 1.6 to about 2.2 lbs. COS/100 lbs. carbon.

These findings and other factors dictated the size of equipment used, the arrangement of the activated carbon adsorbers, and the sequence of gas flow for effecting most economical plane operation. Thus and activated carbon was selected having a particle size of 6+16 and known commercially as type BPL sold by Pittsburgh Activated Carbon Co. Carbons of finer particle size were unsatisfactory because they tend to fluidize or produce high pressure drops while coarser carbons have lower adsorption capacity. Also while high operating pressures were found to give higher carbon adsorption capacity, they nevertheless increase the cost of equipment and operational hazards and hence for practical purposes the system of this invention was operated at about 15 'p.s.i.g. The COS concentration was dictated by the source of the sour gas which in this instance was the residual gas recovered during chlorination of rutile ore to produce vaporous titanium tetrachloride on a plant scale and hence the COS concentration was consistently about 0.4 percent.

In addition to the foregoing controls it was found that the linear velocity of the sour gas, its moisture content, the temperature of the carbon column and the ratio of the height of the column to its diameter were all significant factors towards effecting a practical, economical process. Moreover as shown in FIGS. 3-5 of the drawings these controls do not bear a straight line relationship with the capacity of the carbon to adsorb COS i.e. carbon loading. Thus as shown in FIG. 5, at a linear velocity of about 1.7 ft./min. the highest carbon loading was about 1.6 lbs. COS/100 lbs. carbon after a period (contact time) of about 0.4 minutes whereas at a linear velocity of about 8.2 ft./min. the same loading was effected in about 0.1

I COS/100 lbs. carbon at about 40 F. and dropped off to about 1.0 with a 60 rise in temperature. These findings dictated that either the sour gas, the activated carbon column, or both, as the case may be, be refrigerated or cooled, to maintain a temperature within the carbon column in the range from about 35 F. to no more than about 1 15 F. during the adsorption cycle.

A final factor effecting the loading capacity of the carbon column was found to be the ratio of the height of the column to its diameter. As shown in FIG. 4 when the ratio of height H to diameter D is about 1.0 the loading capacity of the carbon is less than 50 percent of its maximum. At a l-l/D ratio of 2.0 the loading capacity jumps to about 75 percent of maximum and at about 5.0 levels off at about 96.7 percent of maximum. It was thus determined that in a plant scale operation the ratio of the height of the carbon column to its diameter should be at least about 2.0 and preferably not less than 4.5.

Thus using the operating conditions hereinabove described, the sulfur-containing gases i.e. sour gas originating from a chlorinator is fed through a demister and thereafter through a refrigerating unit 100, see FIG. 1. The cooled gas is then fed into the bottom ofthe adsorber column 101 via feed pipe 102 and by adjustment of valve 103 passes upwardly through the adsorber 101 under conditions of predetermined linear velocity and pressure. Due to the large proportion of CO, in the sour gas the carbon will be saturated with CO, but in spite of this the carbonyl sulfide contained in the sour gas will be adsorbed on the carbon and thus separated from the residual sweet gas i.e. C0,, C0 and N, which pass out ofthe top of the column via an exhaust pipe 104. In a normal operation the sourgas is sent through the carbon column continuously and is stopped preferably a short time before the breakthrough point is reached i.e. before a slight amount of carbonyl sulfide can be detected in gases being exhausted from the adsorber. When n this happens valve 103 in the feed pipe l02'is closed thereby min., and after 0.2 minutes rose to about 1.9 lbs. COS/100 lbs.

carbon. However an increase in the linear velocity of the gases to 16.1 ft./min. effected substantially no change in the carbon loading. These studies indicate that the linear velocity of the gases should not be so high as to give contact times less than about 0.15 minutes for a given bed depth but should be at least about 8.5 ft./min. in order that the process not be diffusion controlled in the gas phase. In the plant operation described in detail below a linear velocity of about 50 ft./min. was used for a period ofabout 0.5 minutes.

1 The effect of moisture on carbon loading is shown in FIG. 3 and was found to be surprisingly critical. While the carbon loading of substantially dry gas at zero partial pressure of water in mm. mercury is about 1.5 lbs. COS/100 lbs. carbon, an increase in moisture content equivalent to an increase in partial pressure of 20 mm. mercury effected a drop in carbon loading to about 1.03 lbs. COS/100 carbon; and a drop in loading capacity to about 0.75 at a partial pressure of about 200 mm. mercury. It was patent therefore that for all practical purposes the gas must be substantially dry.

In like manner the loading capacity of the activated carbon was found to vary widely within a relatively narrow temperature range. As shown in FIG. 2 loadings were about 2.8 lbs.

cutting off the flow of sour gas to the adsorber.

The adsorber column 101 is then regenerated, i.e. stripped of its adsorbed COS. This is done by closing the valve 105 in exhaust pipe 104 and opening valves 106 and 107 in pipes 108 and 109 respectively whereupon superheated steam or other hot gas is fed into the top of the adsorber column 101. In passing down through the carbon the steam releases the carbonyl sulfide adsorbed thereon and sweeps it out of the carbon column via exhaust pipe 109 together with the gaseous CO adsorbed by the carbon-which mixture may be disposed of in any'suitable manner. Regeneration of the carbon by superheated steam or other suitable hot gas is continued until no carbonyl sulfide is present in the gases exhausted from the column. While regenerating gas temperatures as slow as 225 F. have been used higher temperatures i.e. temperatures of from 400-5 10 F. are preferred since these insure maximum removal of COS and hence optimum loading capacity of the carbon in the subsequent adsorption cycle. Although superheated steam is a preferred regenerating gas, heated CO, CO, or sweet gas may be used also. The regenerated column is then cooled, preferably by passing sweet gas cooled to a temperature from 33 F. to 75 F. through the regenerated column.

The following examples will serve to further illustrate this embodiment of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 The adsorber tower had a diameter of 6 inches, was 17.7 feet high and was filled to a height of 15.7 feet with lbs. of substantially dry activated carbon having a particle size -6+ 16 by Tyler screen analysis. The ratio of the height of the carbon column to its diameter (H/D) was about 31.1. During the adsorption cycle a sour gas comprising about 42 percent CO, about 52 percent C0,, about 5.5 percent N, plus about 0.41 percent COS was passed upwardly through the carbon column having an average temperature of 9 1 F. at a flow rate of about 13 standard cu. ft./min. corresponding to a Reynolds No. of 69. The pressure in the system was about 11.2 p.s.i.g. The adsorption run was continued for 3.3 hours at which time breakthrough occurred. The loading capacity of the carbon in lbs. of COS per 100 lbs. of carbon was 1.66. The sour gas was then shut off and the carbon column regenerated by passing superheated steam at 420 F. down through the column at a flow rate of 0.99 lbs/hr. to purge the carbon of COS. Regeneration was continued for 14.5 hours during which time the gaseous COS plus CO were discharged from the bottom of the column and disposed of. When no further COS was detected in the discharge from the column the superheated steam was shut off and the carbon column thoroughly dried and cooled by sending dry nitrogen gas at 55 F. upwardly through the column at a flow rate of 59 lbs./hr. for 4.5 hours. The carbon column was thus regenerated for treatment of additional sour gas.

EXAMPLES 1l-1V Additional runs were made using the same carbon column as that described in example I. In these runs, which are identified as example 11 through 1V variations were made in the average temperature of the carbon column ranging from 81 F. to 98 F., and the pressure within the carbon column was varied from 10.2 p.s.i.g. to 12.8 p.s.i.g. Other variables are shown in table 1 below in which it will be seen that the loading capacity of the carbon column varied from 1.43 to as high at 1.94 lbs. COS per 100 lbs. carbon. Each of these carbon columns were regenerated following breakthrough by passing EXAMPLE V This example further illustrates the invention using in this instance an adsorber having a diameter of 15.25 inches packed to height of 32 inches with 107 lbs. of activated carbon such as used in the preceding examples the ratio of the height of the diameter of the carbon column being 2.1:]. During the adsorption cycle a sour gas having the composition of that used in the preceding examples was passed upwardly through the carbon column which was maintained at an average temperature of 1 12 F., the flow rate of said gas being about 13 standard cu. ft./min. corresponding to a Reynolds No. of 69. The pressure in the system was about 1 1.8 p.s.i.g. The adsorption run was continued for 1.7 hours at' which time breakthrough occurred. The loading capacity of the carbon in lbs. of COS/100 lbs. carbon was 0.77. The sour gas was then shut off and the carbon column regenerated by passing superheated steam at 420 F. at about 5 p.s.i.g. and at a flow rate of 1.85 lbs/hr. down through the column to purge the carbon of COS. Regeneration was continued for 4 hours during which time the gaseous COS plus CO were discharged from the bottom of the column and disposed of. After 4 hours no further CO8 was detected in the discharge from the column, whereupon the superheated steam was shut off and the carbon column thoroughly dried and cooled by sending dry nitrogen gas at 75 F. upwardly through the column at a flow rate of 64 lbs./hr. for 16.75 hours. The carbon column was thus regenerated for treatment of additional sour gas.

EXAMPLES Vl-Vll The loading capacity of the carbon was 1.09 or 76 percent of theoretical. The carbon columnwas then regenerated by passing superheated steam at 430 F. at about 5-l0 p.s.i.g. and at a flow rate of 1.71 lbs./hr. down through the column. Regeneration was continued for 4 hours after which the column was thoroughly dried and cooled by passing dry nitrogen at 75 F. upwardly therethrough at a flow rate of 64 lbs/hr. for 16.5 hours.

Example Vll is a modification of example V and V1 to the extent that the average temperature of the carbon column was 98 F., the COS concentration 0.41 and pressure in the system during adsorption 13.4 p.s.i.g. The actual loading capacity of the coke was 1.15. Regeneration was carried out with superheated steam at 450 F. at about 5-l0 p.s.i.g. and a flow rate of 1.74 lbs./hr. for 4 hours after which the column was cooled and dried by flushing with cold dry nitrogen gas at 72 F. for 17.75 hours.

TABLE 1 Adsorption of Carbonyl Sulfide by Carbon Column and Regeneration ul'Column.

Adsorption ExJ Ex.11 Ex.111

HID 31:1 31:1 31:1 Aver. Temp. Column (F.) 91 88 97 Gas flow rate std. cu.1't./rnin. 13 13 13 Pressure (p.s.i.g.) 11.2 11.2 11.8 Cos conc. (b in sour gas 0.41 0.42 0.42 Break-thru-hrs. 3.3 3.3 2.8 Load Cap. (lbs. cos/ lbs.C.) 1.66 1.43 1.71 Regeneration Steam (F.l 420.0 430.0 510.0 Flow rate (lbs/hr.) 0.99 0.76 1.22 lnterval (hrs.) 14.5 7.5 15.25

Drying Gas N, N, N Temp.( F.) 55.0 50.0 60.0 Flow rate 59.0 59.0 (lbs/hr. Interval (hrs.) 4.5 5.0 4.0

TABLE 1] Adsorption ExJV Ex.V Ex.V1 Ex.Vl1

HID 31:1 2.1:] 2.111 2.11 Aver. Temp. Column PF.) 81 112 100 98 Gas flow rate std. cu.tt./rnin. 13 13 l3 13 Pressure (p.s.i.g.) 10.2 11.8 12.6 13.4 Cos cone. (9) in sour gas 0.46 0.41 0.45 0.41 Break-thru (hrs.) 3.5 1.7 2.2 2.2 Luad Cap. (lbs. Cos100 lbs. C.) 1.94 0.77 1.09 1.15 Regeneration Steam (F.) 430.0 460.0 430.0 450 Flow rate (lbs./hr.) 0.81 1.85 1.71 1.74 Interval (hrs.) 8.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 Drying Gas N, N, N, N, Temp. (F.) 58.0 75.0 75.0 72.0 Flow rate (lbs/hr. 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 Interval (hrs.) 4.0 16.75 16.50 17.75

The foregoing description and examples are concerned with the operation of a single carbon column, such as shown schematically in FIG. 1 which after serving as a COS adsorber is then regenerated and cooled for further use. However for full plant scale operation it has been found expedient to carry out the several distinct processing steps described above i.e. ad sorption, regeneration and cooling using a plurality of activated carbon columns. FIG. 6 shows schematically a plant oriented design comprising four towers of activated carbon connected by suitable piping including appropriate valves whereby COS containing gases may be fed to the four towers in sequence in accordance with a predetermined program.

Since each tower at one time or another will be used as a COS adsorber the towers are substantially identical. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 each tower. identified as I, II. III and IV respectively, was 33 feet high and 66 inches in diameter and filled to a predetermined depth of 25 feet with an activated carbon i.e. type BPL 6+l6 provided by the Pittsburgh Activated Carbon Co.. such that the ratio of the height of the column of carbon to its diameter was about 4.55. The sour gas was fed through pipeline 200 having shut off valve 20 to a demistor for removing moisture and from thence to a precooler 202 for cooling the sour gas, the precooler being cooled. in turn. by circulating brine which entered the precooler 202 at about 35 F. The sour gas was thus cooled from about I F. to about 35-40 F. before enter-' ing the. adsorption towers.

The precooled sour gas which comprises about 55 percent C0,. 39.2 percent CO. 5.2 percent N, and about 0.5 percent COS, was fed into each tower, successively, when .serving as an adsorber, at a flow rate of about I,300.0 standard cu. ftJmin. at an initial pressure of about 15.0 p .s .i.g. the temperature in each tower during the adsorption cycle being about 40-50 F. Adsorption was continued for about 6.0 hours after which the sour gas feed was cut off by closing valve 20. Each tower, following adsorption, was then regenerated by superheated steam entering at about 430 F. at about 3--8 p.s.i.g. and at a flow rate of about 4,300.0 lbs/hour for. a period of about 5.5 hours.

Following regeneration of its carbon column each regenerated column was cooled by passing cool sweet gas therethrough at about 50 F. and at a rate of about l,300 standard cu. ft./rnin. for 6 hours. To this end the cool sweet gas issuing from an adsorption tower was piped into the hot regenerated column to cool the latter; and the heated sweet gas issuing therefrom was carried off by pipe 203 to anaftercooler where it was cooled and then sent to the MEA 'unit as and for the purpose hereinabove described. In this connection it is important to note that by using the cool sweet gas recovered from an adsorber tower to cool a regenerated column of carbon, in lieu of a cold inert gas i.e. nitrogen, the carbon in the regenerated column is saturated with C0, during the cooling cycle thereby precluding a rapid adsorption of C0, during the next COS adsorption cycle with attendant sudden increase in temperature and interruption in the CO,

supply downstream of the adsorber. As mentioned'above the heated sweet gas issuing from the cooled regenerated column valves offer numerous programs, one program in particular.

has been discovered. hereinafter identified as Program A,

g 'which utilizes each tower successively as an adsorber followed by steaming (regeneration), cooling and as a standby with minimum valve porting and hence offers the most economical and efficient use of material and equipment for adsorption of The-piping and valves used to connect the four towers are shown in.-FlG.-6 wherein it will be seen that valves 1-10 are either 3-way or 4-way valves and valves 11-20 are straight through valves. The selected valve settings for carrying out the aforeaaldprogramare shown in Table III:

TABLE III VALVE SETTINGS FOR PROGRAM A CYCLE VALVE NOJPOSITION A lIL 2/L SIR IL 5/L 61L 7/R 8/L 9/L 10/R ll/C 12/C 131C 14/0 15/0 16/C 17/ C lI/O 19/C 20/0 8 UR 21R 3IL 4/R SIR 6IL 7/R l/R DIR 10/L 1110 BIG IJIC 141C 15/0 16/C 17/0 18/C 19IC 20/0 C IIL 21R 3/1. 41L 5IL 6/R 7/1. 8/L 9/L 10/R lI/C l2/C 13/0 14/C 15/0 16/C 17/C I8/C 19/0 20/0 D 1111 2IL JIR 4IR 5/R 6/R 7/L l/R 91R 10/L llIC 12/0 IJIC MIC 15/0 16/0 l'l/C 18/C 19/C 20/0 wherein L I Left; R Right; 0 I Open C Closed As mentioned above the invention is comprehensive of a large number of programs and while the foregoing is distinct in requiring minimum valve porting and an opportunity to inspect or repair a tower during the time it is on standby other programs may be used as for example Program B wherein all towers are in operation continuously.

PROGRAM B Cycle Tower I Tower II Tower III Tower IV A Adaorbing Adsorbing Cooling Steaming B Steaming Adsorbing Adsorbing Cooling C Cooling Steaming Adsorbing Adsorbing D Adaorbing Cooling Steaming Adsorbing The valve settings for PROGRAM B areas follows:

TABLE IV VALVE SETTINGS FOR PROGRAM B CYCLE VALVE NOJPOSITIONS A l/L 21L SIR 4/L 5/L 6/L 'I/R 8/1. 9IL l0/L ll/C IZ/C IJIC 14/0 15/0 16/C 17/C- IBIC 19/C 20/0 B 1IL 2/R JIL 4/R SIR 6/L 7/R l/R 9/R 10/L 11/0 l2/C 13/6 141C 15/0 16/C l7/C 18/0 19/C 20/0 C IIR 2/L 31R 41R 5/R 6/L 7IR l/R DIR 10/R 11/C 12/0 IJIC 141C 15/0 16/C 17/C ISIC 19/6 20/0 D 1/R 2/L JIR 4IL 5/L 6!!! 7/1. 8/L 9/L 10/R 11/C 12/C 13/0 14/C 15/0 16/C l7/C 18/C I9/C 20/0 especially for the removal of COS from chlorinator gases which include a relatively large proportionof CO, gas, economically and in a manner adapted to plant scale opera tions whereby the problems attending corrosion, repair and replacement of equipment as well as malfunctioning, downtime and expense are largely eliminated.

While this invention has been described and illustrated by the examples shown, it is, not intended to be strictly limited thereto, and other variations and modificationsmay be em- I ployed within the scope-of the following claims.

We claim:

1. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing large proportions of CO CO and N in addition to said carbonyl sulfide comprising the steps of: cooling said gases,.feeding the cooled gases through a column of substantially activated carbon wherein the ratio of the height of said column to its diameter is at least 2:] while maintaining the temperature of said tower of activated carbon in the range from 350 F. to no more than about 1 l5 F. to absorb the carbonyl sulfide on said activated carbon and recover a sweet gas comprising C0,, C and N regenerating said column of ac tivated carbon by passing a substantially dry fluid selected from the group consisting of superheated steam and nitrogen at elevated temperature therethrough to remove the adsorbed carbonyl sulfide and CO therefrom and then cooling the regenerated column of activated carbon.

2. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim 1 wherein the regenerated column of activated carbon is cooled by passing cool sweet gas therethrough.

3. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim 1 wherein said industrial gas is cooled to a temperature at least as low as about 50 F prior to being fed into said column of activated carbon.

4. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim 1 wherein the cooled industrial gases are passed through said column of activated carbon for from about 1.5 to 8.0 hours.

5. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim 1 wherein the activated carbon is regenerated by passing superheated steam through said column of activated carbon for from 4 to 16 hours.

6. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim wherein the temperature of said superheated steam is in the range of 400 to 550 F.

7. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim 1 wherein the said industrial gases comprise from 39 to 42 percent carbon monoxide, from 50 to 55 percent carbondioxide, from 5 to 6 percent nitrogen and-from 0.4 to 0.5 percent carbonyl sulfide.

8. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the height of the column of activated carbon to its diameter is in the range offrom 2:1 to 32: l.

9. Continuous process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing a large proportion of CO CO and N in addition to said carbonyl sulfide comprising the steps of: cooling said gases to a temperature as low as 30 F.. feeding the cooled gases successively through each of a plurality of columns of activated carbon interconnected by pipe lines and valves, wherein the ratio of the height of each column of activated carbon to its diameter is at least 2:1, and at a flow rate at not less than 8.2 ft./sec., said cooled gases being fed to each one of said columns of activated carbon successively in accordance with a 4-phase cyclic program and each column of activated carbon serving, in turn, as a carbonyl sulfide adsorber, maintaining the temperature in each column of activated carbon, in the range of from 35 to l F. to adsorb the carbonyl sulfide on said activated carbon and recover a cool sweet gas comprising CO C0 and N and regenerating and cooling each column of activated carbon following the adsorption cycle.

10. Continuous process for recovering carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases according to claim 9 wherein each column is regenerated, in turn, by passing superheated steam therethrough at a temperature from 400 to 550 F. and each regenerated column is cooled, in turn, by passing the cool sweet gas recovered from an adsorbtion tower through said regenerated column.

11. Continuous process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases according to claim 10 characterized by the fol lowing program;

wherein said program is being maintained by manipulation of the valves in the pipe lines interconnecting said columns of activated carbon in accordance with the following valve settings:

cvcus VALVE N0./1 os1'r1o1vs 7/R 8/1 9/1. 10/11 11/0 we we 14/0 15/0 16/: me 18/0 19/c 20/0 13 l/R 2/11 3/1 4/12 SIR 6/L 71R 8/R 9/11 10/1 11/0 12/c 13/0 14/1: 15/0 10/1: 17/0 1010 WC 20/0 0 1/1 2/11 3/1. 4/1. 5/1 61R 7/1. 0/1 9/1 10/11 me we 13/0 13/0 14/0 15/0 16/0 17/0 rs/c 19/0 20/0 0 UR 2/1 3/R 4/11 SIR 6/R 7/1. s/R 9/12 10/1. 11/c 12/0 rs/c 14/1: 15/0 111/0 17/c 10/0 19/c 20/0 where L and R denote left and right settings of the valves 0 and C denote open and closed positions of the valves.

12. Continuous process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial waste gases according to claim 10 characterized by the following program;

PROGRAM E.

Cycle Tower 1 Tower ll Tower lll Tower IV A Adsorbing Adsorbing Cooling Steaming B Steaming Adsorbing Adsorbing Cooling C Cooling Steaming Adsorbing Adsorbing D Adsorbing Cooling Steaming Adsorbing said program being maintained by manipulation of the valves in the pipe lines interconnecting said columns of activated carbon in accordance with the following valve settings: 

2. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim 1 wherein the regenerated column of activated carbon is cooled by passing cool sweet gas therethrough.
 3. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim 1 wherein said industrial gas is cooled to a temperature at least as low as about 50* F. prior to being fed into said column of activated carbon.
 4. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim 1 wherein the cooled industrial gases are passed through said column of activated carbon for from about 1.5 to 8.0 hours.
 5. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim 1 wherein the activated carbon is regenerated by passing superheated steam through said column of activated carbon for from 4 to 16 hours.
 6. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim 5 wherein the temperature of said superheated steam is in the range of 400* to 550* F.
 7. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim 1 wherein the said industrial gases comprise from 39 to 42 percent carbon monoxide, from 50 to 55 percent carbon dioxide, from 5 to 6 percent nitrogen and from 0.4 to 0.5 percent carbonyl sulfide.
 8. Process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing the same according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the height of the column of actIvated carbon to its diameter is in the range of from 2:1 to 32:1.
 9. Continuous process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases containing a large proportion of CO2, CO and N2 in addition to said carbonyl sulfide comprising the steps of: cooling said gases to a temperature as low as 30* F., feeding the cooled gases successively through each of a plurality of columns of activated carbon interconnected by pipe lines and valves, wherein the ratio of the height of each column of activated carbon to its diameter is at least 2:1, and at a flow rate at not less than 8.2 ft./sec., said cooled gases being fed to each one of said columns of activated carbon successively in accordance with a 4-phase cyclic program and each column of activated carbon serving, in turn, as a carbonyl sulfide adsorber, maintaining the temperature in each column of activated carbon, in the range of from 35* to 115* F. to adsorb the carbonyl sulfide on said activated carbon and recover a cool sweet gas comprising CO2, CO and N2, and regenerating and cooling each column of activated carbon following the adsorption cycle.
 10. Continuous process for recovering carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases according to claim 9 wherein each column is regenerated, in turn, by passing superheated steam therethrough at a temperature from 400* to 550* F. and each regenerated column is cooled, in turn, by passing the cool sweet gas recovered from an adsorbtion tower through said regenerated column.
 11. Continuous process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial gases according to claim 10 characterized by the following program; PROGRAM A Cycle Tower I Tower II Tower III Tower IV A Adsorbing Cooling Idling Steaming B Steaming Idling Adsorbing Cooling C Cooling Adsorbing Steaming Idling D Idling Steaming Cooling Adsorbing wherein said program is being maintained by manipulation of the valves in the pipe lines interconnecting said columns of activated carbon in accordance with the following valve settings: CYCLE VALVE NO./POSITIONS A 1/L 2/L 3/R 4/L 5/L 6/L 7/R 8/L 9/L 10/R 11/C 12/C 13/C 14/O 15/O 16/C 17/C 18/O 19/C 20/O B 1/R 2/R 3/L 4/R 5/R 6/L 7/R 8/R 9/R 10/L 11/O 12/C 13/C 14/C 15/O 16/C 17/O 18/C 19/C 20/O C 1/L 2/R 3/L 4/L 5/L 6/R 7/L 8/L 9/L 10/R 11/C 12/C 13/O 13/0 14/C 15/O 16/C 17/C 18/C 19/O 20/O D 1/R 2/L 3/R 4/R 5/R 6/R 7/L 8/R 9/R 10/L 11/C 12/O 13/C 14/C 15/O 16/O 17/C 18/C 19/C 20/O where L and R denote left and right settings of the valves O and C denote open and closed positions of the valves.
 12. Continuous process for removing carbonyl sulfide from industrial waste gases according to claim 10 characterized by the following program; PROGRAM B Cycle Tower I Tower II Tower III Tower IV A Adsorbing Adsorbing Cooling Steaming B Steaming Adsorbing Adsorbing Cooling C Cooling Steaming Adsorbing Adsorbing D Adsorbing Cooling Steaming Adsorbing said program being maintained by manipulation of the valves in the pipe lines interconnecting said columns of activated carbon in accordance with the following valve settings: CYCLE VALVE NO./POSITION A 1/L 2/L 3/R 4/L 5/L 6/L 7/R 8/L 9/L 10/L 11/C 12/C 13/C 14/O 15/O 16/C 17/C 18/C 19/C 20/O B 1/L 2/R 3/L 4/R 5/R 6/L 7/R 8/R 9/R 10/L 11/O 12/C 13/C 14/C 15/O 16/C 17/C 18/C 19/C 20/O C 1/R 2/L 3/R 4/R 5/R 6/L 7/R 8/R 9/R 10/R 11/C 12/O 13/C 14/C 15/O 16/C 17/C 18/C 19/C 20/O D 1/R 2/L 3/R 4.L 5/L 6/R 7/L 8/L 9/L 10/R 11/C 12/C 13/O 14/C 15/O 16/C 17/C 18/C 19/C 20/O 